Edith Parker, 79; Senate Aide Penned the Declaration of War Against Japan

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Edith Helen Parker, who as a congressional aide penned the declaration of war against Japan after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, died Sunday of pneumonia at University Hospital here.

Miss Parker, who was 79, was an aide to Sen. Tom Connally of Texas, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.

The responsibility of drawing up the document fell to Connally, who could not be found, so she wrote the declaration that officially put the United States into World War II. She based the document, which was voted on by Congress on Dec. 8, 1941, on the U.S. declaration of war against Germany in World War I.

Three days later the United States declared war on Germany and Italy, Japan's allies.

After Connally retired, Miss Parker taught English and history at various universities in Texas and Oklahoma.